Investigation continues into deadly Aptos High stabbing
APTOS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office deputies are continuing to look into what led up to the deadly stabbing at Aptos High School that claimed the life of an Aptos High senior.
Crime scene tape marked the entrance of Aptos High School. The campus was relatively quiet except for police coming in and out. Residents who live near the school are still stunned that a crime like Monday afternoon's stabbing could happen.
"I living here for 30 years, it's no problem. I think it's a good area but happen, things you know, everywhere," said Eduardo Olaguer, an Aptos resident.
A 17-year-old male was stabbed at the school, according to the sheriff's office. Two suspects, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old have been arrested for the crime. They were booked into juvenile hall Monday night. Police say they still don't have a motive for the stabbing but they do have what they believe to be the murder weapon.
"We do know that one of the people arrested does have a violent criminal background and so we're not sure why the victim was targeted yet but the motive is something that we're working on right now," said Sherrif Hart for Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
The incident has sparked discussions about school safety among concerned parents. The school district now considering putting school resource officers on campus in PVUSD schools, something they decided against in 2020. Instead, they decided to invest in social and mental health for their students.
"At that point, the question was do we place our resources with the school resource officer or do we put it up with social, emotional supports so we choose to remove, the board chose to remove the school resource officer," said Michelle Rodriguez, PVUSD Superintendent.
The sheriff believes that school resource officers are a good idea.
"School resource officers and campus security have to be a priority. If our kids can't safely go to school, then their education is going to flounder," said Hart.
The school remains closed until Friday as investigators process evidence.
The school district plans to have a community meeting on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
